The Green map pin at the center of the image points to the DeGuigne mansion.

The news articles below were found on the Internet on 15 March 2009. There is some duplicity.

Hillsborough ponders subdividing pristine land for 25 homes

By Christine Morente, San Mateo County Times, 01/15/2009

HILLSBOROUGH — Every window of John Somorjai's home faces a hillside of oak trees. It's a sight that greets the 43-year-old each time he looks. But had he known the valley could be subdivided into 25 lots, he probably wouldn't have bought the house perched on a ridge north of Crystal Springs. "It's just very pristine," Somorjai said Thursday. "It feels like a rural area even though you're living in an urban community."

On Wednesday night, he and more than 100 Hillsborough residents met at the Racquet Club to learn about the proposal for Christian de Guigne IV's 47-acre property. The project calls for 25 single-family homes, where lot size would range from one to 4.5 acres. The largest would be reserved for the de Guigne family.

In December, Peter Callander of Callander Associates filed a preliminary proposal to the town of Hillsborough. Callander said he expects the Town Council to select an environmental impact report consultant to study the land next month. Final approval of the project would not only come from the town, but also the city of San Mateo, San Mateo County, and from regulatory agencies such as the California Department of Fish and Game and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The release of a tentative map is expected for spring 2010, while the final version is scheduled for later that year. Concerns voiced by the crowd ranged from roadway and traffic issues to potential fire hazards to impacts on wildlife. On Thursday, Somorjai learned that the town's general plan only allows for 10 new homes on the de Guigne land.

While Callander acknowledged that the general plan is a vision for the community, he said it only acts as a "place holder." The project does not have to be restricted to 10 lots, he said.

Lennie Roberts of Committee for Green Foothills does not want the open space to be developed. She would rather see the majority of the land become a wildlife preserve to protect the deer, coyotes, bobcats, hawks and owls that live there. San Mateo Creek also runs along the property. "(The land) is a great remnant of what would have been there before people started altering the place," Roberts said.

Inside the secluded wilderness is a 16,000-square-foot mansion built in 1918 when Third Avenue was lined with homes and B Street was the business district. De Guigne - great-great grandson of one of San Mateo's prominent businessmen - has lived on the estate all of his life. According to 2002 legal documents of de Guigne's divorce from former wife Vaugn de Guigne, the property is valued at $24 million to $30 million. The area includes hiking trails, streams and gardens. Gregory Hampton, de Guigne's attorney, said his client - soon to be 72 years old - is sensitive to the issues surrounding the land.

Jensine Olsen, a second- generation Hillsborough resident, hopes that de Guigne IV maintains the area's quality of life. "(Now), you can watch red-tail hawks in the morning and hear owls at night," Olsen said. "We have generations of deer, and we can tell the stags by seeing their horns." She added, "I think change is inevitable, though it can be uncomfortable. That's why being sensitive to it on so many levels is paramount to this."

One of the last great estates built nearly a century ago in what is now Hillsborough appears to be headed for extinction. The 47-acre parcel, located near the western San Mateo border on a secluded hillside between Crystal Springs Road and Parrott Drive is owned by Christian de Guigne IV. The private land, rarely seen by the public, features spectacular views and is a reported haven for wildlife. The family's stunning 16,000-square-foot mansion, built in 1918, sits in the middle of the splendid acreage.

Christian de Guigne IV is the great-great-grandson of one of San Mateo's most successful early businessmen. Christian and his ex-wife Vaugn divorced several years ago. Court records indicate that the future of the estate overlooking Crystal Springs Canyon has become a financial issue in the divorce proceedings. Now the quiet retreat, valued between $25 and $30 million, is scheduled to be subdivided to make way for 25 upscale single-family residences.

The official preliminary proposal has been filed with Hillsborough planning authorities.

A meeting with neighbors to air possible concerns and suggestions has been set by the proposed development's landscape architect, Callander Associates of San Mateo, for 7 p.m. on Jan. 14 at the Hillsborough Racquet Club, 252 El Cerrito Ave.

The de Guigne family has a long and storied history in San Mateo. Coming from France in the latter part of the 19th century, Christian de Guigne I created great wealth on the Peninsula through a variety of innovative commercial ventures. One of his most profitable firms was a forerunner of what would become the Leslie Salt Co. Another major enterprise was the creation of the Stauffer Chemical Co. He married into the prominent Parrott family in 1879, according to an account by Mitch Postel of the San Mateo County History Museum.

At one time, de Guigne's considerable local real estate holdings included much of what is now Third Avenue in downtown San Mateo. Christian de Guigne IV is an heir to that significant fortune.

San Mateo Daily Journal

Homes planned in open space

By Dana Yates

A third-generation Hillsborough resident is seeking to build 25 homes on his 48-acre estate near Crystal Springs Reservoir, raising concerns about the wildlife and open space Peninsula residents have long taken for granted. Christian de Guigne IV submitted a proposal to the town of Hillsborough Dec. 30 and plans to hold a public meeting Jan. 14 to share the specifics of the plan.

The property is nestled between Crystal Springs Road and Parrott Drive and is bordered by the city of San Mateo to the east. It is considered by some as the last great family estate on the Mid-peninsula. “There are still some in Woodside. If you’re talking about anything close to San Mateo, it probably is the last,” said Mitch Postel, executive director of the San Mateo Historical Society.

The property is a common sight for people traveling on Crystal Springs Road going to or from Camp Sawyer Trail near the reservoir and is considered home to a unique habitat of wildlife. For those reasons, local environmentalists are already taking note of the development and preparing themselves for next week’s meeting.

“As a significant piece of open space, it has a diverse habitat. It’s going to be an interesting meeting,” said Lennie Roberts of the Committee for Green Foothills.

Roberts said she learned of the proposal just a few days ago. Ideally, Robert said the property could become protected open space similar to what happened to the Woodside Phleger estate. In 1994, Mary Phleger sold the estate to the Peninsula Open Space Trust, which then turned it over to National Park Service management. The house is a private residence, but the park trails are public.

The Loma Prieta Chapter of the Sierra Club also just heard about the project, said Director Melissa Hippard. “It’s a balance between wildlife, the watershed and Crystal Springs corridor — and the need for affordable housing,” Hippard said. The Sierra Club supports new housing although it usually encourages redevelopment of properties close to mass transit. It is too early for Sierra Club to take a position, Hippard said.

The Hillsborough Planning Department received the conceptual plan Dec. 30. It includes a map with images of the 26 lots with drawings of how the 25 new homes will be situated. The family home will remain on the last lot. Staff from a number of departments are reviewing the biological, floristic, fuel management, geotechnical, tree and wetlands reports submitted by the owner with the application. The town will pursue its own environmental studies once appointed commissioners set the proposal for review. Town meetings regarding the proposal will begin in April — at the earliest, said Hillsborough Planning Director Liz Cullinan. The town will not be represented in the community meeting next week and does not require property owners to hold such gatherings, Cullinan said.

Christian de Guigne IV is the fourth generation of de Guigne’s in the San Mateo and Hillsborough area. His great grandfather, a cofounder of Staufer Chemical Company, married Mary Katherine Parrott in 1879. Their son, Christian de Guigne II, built the 16,000-square-foot Hillsborough mansion in 1918. The residence is surrounded by 47.5 acres of land containing hiking trails, streams, wildlife and gardens. The house has multiple bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, a ballroom, pavilion, formal dining room, library and swimming pool. It contains valuable artwork, jewelry, furnishings and other items of personal property collected by the family, according to 2002 state appellate court records regarding de Guigne’s divorce.

Expert testimony at the time of the court hearing estimated the value of the property at approximately $15 million. In that same divorce ruling, de Guigne was ordered to pay $15,000 a month in child support and $12,500 in spousal support.

The community meeting will be held 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Jan. 14 at the Hillsborough Racquet Club, 252 El Cerrito Ave. A representative of the project’s development firm, Callander Associates, referred questions to Cullinan.

Dana Yates can be reached by e-mail: dana@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 106.

The San Mateo Daily Journal

Hillside homes in question

By Dana Yates , (c. Jan 15, 2009)

Questions regarding traffic, open space and stress on an already taxed Hillsborough school system surround a proposal to build 25 homes on a 48-acre estate near Crystal Springs Reservoir. Third-generation Hillsborough resident Christian de Guigne IV submitted a proposal to the town of Hillsborough Dec. 30 to subdivide his property for 25 more homes. The property is nestled between Crystal Springs Road and Parrott Drive and is bordered by the city of San Mateo to the east. It is considered by some as the last great family estate on the Midpeninsula.

Residents, however, are concerned 25 new homes will mean dozens more cars traveling on an already crowded thoroughfare. They are also concerned new homes will disrupt views on the scenic hillside, create fire hazards, disrupt an unique environmental habitat and tax an already overtaxed school system.

“Where are you going to put all the kids,” asked Ann Barry. “We’re already maxed out at all the schools.” Barry sat on education committees as both her children went through the town’s public school system. She said the school district continues to struggle with over-enrollment at North, South and Crocker schools. Residents also pointed out that traffic on Crystal Springs Road is so dangerous that collisions often happen.

The team representing de Guigne — a local attorney, architectural firm and engineer — fielded questions from a crowd of approximately 150 people last night at the Hillsborough Racquet Club. Several people expressed a desire to keep the property open space and de Guigne’s attorney Greg Hampton said his client would be open to the idea.

“I can assure you if an organization would come forward with a concrete and solid proposal, we would take a hard look at it,” Hampton said.

The property is a common sight for people traveling on Crystal Springs Road going to or from Sawyer Camp Trail near the reservoir and is considered home to a unique habitat of wildlife. For those reasons, local environmentalists are already taking note of the development and preparing for action. Lennie Roberts, of the Committee for Green Foothills, sounded hopeful that the property could stay open space. “Getting a conservation easement is a very viable alternative,” Roberts said at last night’s meeting.

Roberts previously told the Daily Journal that ideally the property could become protected open space similar to what happened to the Woodside Phleger estate. In 1994, Mary Phleger sold the estate to the Peninsula Open Space Trust, which then turned it over to National Park Service management. The house is a private residence, but the park trails are public.

The Hillsborough Planning Department received the conceptual plan Dec. 30. It includes a map with images of the 26 lots with drawings of how the 25 new homes will be situated. The family home will remain on the last lot. Staff from a number of departments are reviewing the biological, floristic, fuel management, geotechnical, tree and wetlands reports submitted by the owner with the application. The town will pursue its own environmental studies once appointed commissioners set the proposal for review.

The entire processes could take approximately two years before any of the lots go up for sale, said Peter Callander, a community relations professional hired by de Guigne.

De Guigne is the fourth generation of de Guigne’s in the San Mateo and Hillsborough area. His great grandfather, a cofounder of Staufer Chemical Company, married Mary Katherine Parrott in 1879. Their son, Christian de Guigne II, built the 16,000-square-foot Hillsborough mansion in 1918. The residence is surrounded by 47.5 acres of land containing hiking trails, streams, wildlife and gardens. The house has multiple bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, a ballroom, pavilion, formal dining room, library and swimming pool, according to 2002 state appellate court records regarding de Guigne’s divorce.

Expert testimony at the time of the court hearing estimated the value of the property at approximately $15 million. In that same divorce ruling, de Guigne was ordered to pay $15,000 a month in child support and $12,500 in spousal support.

Dana Yates can be reached by e-mail: dana@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 106.

The origins of Hillsborough's wealth can be traced to the first families that moved to the area and established vast estates. Howard, Crocker and Poett were a few of the big names of that era. Their driveways evolved into some of today's roads, which meander through the town's ghost-like century-old trees.

Another name on that list of founders was Don Parrot, who, 150 years ago, purchased 50 acres along the canyon and creek that run beside Crystal Springs Road. Deer, coyotes, wild rabbits, snakes, hawks, owls, rare flora, and old oaks still inhabit this unique and unknown treasure. Its wilderness is easily visible and admired by visitors to Sawyer Camp Trail.

Unfortunately, Parrot's great-great grandson and current owner of the property, Christian de Guigne, has recently submitted an application to divide it into 25 two-acre lots and designate them for mini-mansions.

Local open-space advocates are eyeing this proposal, which is in its very early stages. Not only is the property home to a rich assortment of wildlife, it is one of the last of the early estates that remains relatively intact with its wilderness undisturbed.

Residents Skeptical

To gauge neighborhood sentiment, developer Callander Associates hosted a town hall hearing in January, which drew more than 120 people. Callander employees pitched it to residents, telling them that there was still two years' worth of planning before any formal proposal would be submitted for city approval.

Residents were skeptical. In addition to the environmental impacts, they wondered if 25 new homes would exacerbate traffic hazards, raise fire danger, and further strain the school district.

"They were pretty shocked at how many people showed up," said Chapter member Lennie Roberts, who also works for the Committee for Green Foothills, a nonprofit. "People spoke up, which was good."

Because the proposal is so early in the process, the Chapter has not yet taken a formal position. Chapter Director Melissa Hippard hopes that the property owner will agree to a conservation easement or a similar solution that will preserve the land.

De Guigne's lawyer, Gregory Hampton of San Mateo, said that his client, who is currently in a financial bind, is open to such alternatives. "If an organization would come forward with a concrete and solid proposal, we'd take a hard look at it, no question about it," Hampton told the town hall meeting. "He loves this property more than anyone else in this room."

Jaw-Dropping Wonderment

It's hard to doubt Hampton. The mansion that his client lives in was built in 1918. For generations, the home's surroundings have been the object of jaw-dropping wonderment and admiration.

Author and visitor Charles Loring Brace in 1868 wrote in his book, The New West, that Crystal Springs Canyon "was dark even at noon-day—thehard, well-watered road, smooth as a gentleman's avenue, winding in easy grades along the banks of a dashing crystal-clear stream, and beneath such weird trees. They were evergreen oaks, different in effect from any tree I have anywhere seen, except now and then in Italy-precisely such as Salvator Rosa painted, and which a Ruskinian would say were impossible....There was a singular romance and strange wild character to the whole ravine, which I never tired of while in California."